The State of Jammu and Kashmir was governed by Dogra rulers till
1947 when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession in favour
of the Indian Union on 26 October 1947.The first Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir, consisting of a Council
of Ministers and an Assembly, was established in 1934.The Constitution of the State of Jammu and Kashmir framed by a
separate Constituent Assembly came into force from 26 January 1957.Section 46 of the Jammu & Kashmir Constitution states that the
Legislature shall consist of the Governor and the two Houses known as the
Legislative Council (Upper House) and the Legislative Assembly (Lower
House).The Legislative
Assembly consisted of one hundred members chosen by direct election from
the territorial constituencies in the State. Subsequently, under the
Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir (Twentieth Amendment) Act, 1988 – this
was raised to 111. However, as per section 48 of the State Constitution,
twenty-four seats shall remain vacant in the Legislative Assembly for the
area of the State presently under the occupation of Pakistan.These seats are not taken into account for reckoning the total
membership of the Assembly.Provision has also been made for the nomination of two women
as members of the Assembly by the Governor, if he is of the opinion that
women are not adequately represented in the Legislative Assembly.

The
Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir is bicameral. The Jammu and Kashmir
Legislative Assembly at present consists of 89 members out of which 87 are
elected and 2 are nominated. The Assembly has its own Rules of Procedure
and Conduct of Business to regulate the business of the House.These rules have been amended from time to time. The tenure of the
Assembly is six years unless sooner dissolved.